Read on to learn more about the peculiar life of the last great naked eye astronomer
Astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy
Heroes of Space: Henrietta Swan Leavitt
On this day in 1868 an unsung astronomer, who helped to discover our place in the universe, was born
Astronomy
Is it possible to see detail on Venus with my telescope?
Being our next-door neighbour, can we grab stunning views of the surface of Venus?
Astronomy
NIGHT SKY: Where and when to catch the Quadrantid meteor shower
Get ready for the first meteor shower of 2018!
News
Tails of pulsars could clear up geometry debate
Pulsars have fascinated and baffled astronomers since they were first discovered 50 years ago
Competitions
Win two Meade telescopes and a spotting scope worth over £1000!
Be fully equipped for your tours of the night sky this winter, courtesy of Hama UK and Meade Instruments
News
Exploding stars found to be the main source of lithium in the universe
The lightest solid element in existence, plays an important role in our lives, both at the biological and the technological level
News
Astronomers capture the eerie glow of a ‘dead’ star
The star’s nebula is visible in amateur telescopes and is located 6,500 light years away in the constellation Taurus
News
Hot cocoon surrounding newborn star spotted for the first time
The discovery marks the first important step for observational studies of extragalactic hot molecular cores and challenges the hidden chemical diversity of our universe
News
Astronomers explore the “Golden Age” of the universe with ALMA
Scientists have explored the distant corner of the universe first revealed in the iconic images of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field
News
Slooh astronomers capture newfound comet before it disappears
The icy object had been close to the Sun since its discovery on 11 September, making it extremely difficult to observe
Competitions
Win a Meade Polaris 90EQ telescope worth £250!
Take a fuss-free tour of the planets and lunar surface this month, courtesy of Meade Instruments and Hama UK Ltd
News
New image reveals stars “shocked” into existence
An unprecedented view from the Gemini South telescope in Chile probes a swarm of young and forming stellar objects
News
Astronomers discover hottest ever white dwarf at Milky Way’s edge
With a temperature of 250,000 degrees Celsius, this dying star at the outskirts of our galaxy has even entered its cooling phase
News
Astronomers find unlikely star to be a magnetic powerhouse
A dim, cool dwarf star is generating a surprisingly powerful magnetic field, one that rivals the most intense magnetic regions of our own Sun
News
Black hole caught shredding a star to pieces
A tidal disruption event in a galaxy that lies about 290 million light years from Earth has been spotted
Deep Space
Five facts you didn’t know about the Andromeda galaxy
Despite its familiarity, our closest spiral galaxy still manages to amaze us
Solar System
How many Earth-like planets can material from a supernova make?
We’re made of star stuff, so how many Earth-like planets can one stellar explosion make?
Solar System
Why are Uranus’ moons named after Shakespearean characters?
We find out how the ice giant’s moons got their names
Astronomy
Why do some planets appear to move backwards through the sky?
You might not be aware, but planets can gradually change direction in the sky. We find out why